Multiple toolholder for lathes



Aug-.8, 1944 y.LA HoNl-:GGER 2,355,072

MULTIPLE TOOL HOLDER FOR LATHES Filed Sept. 16, 1942 ATTO NEY l PatentedAug. 8, 1944 v MULTIPLE TOOLHOLDER FOR LATHES John A. Honegger,Bloomfield, N. J., assigner to* Specialties Manufacturing Company,

Inc.,

Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application september 16,1942, serial N0. 458,520

claims. (o1. .2s- 48) The present invention relates to lathes, and moreparticularly to an attachment for mounting a plurality of tools.

The present invention aims to provide a toolholding attachment which isparticularly adapted to be used in connection with turning lathes andthe like, and which is adapted to be mounted on the cross slide of anyof the Well known makes of machinists lathes.

An object of the present invention is to p rovide an improved, simpleand linexpensive toolholding attachment for lathes, which is rugged inconstruction and has a wide range of adaptability.

Another object is to provide an attachment for mounting a group of toolswhich are adapted to be selectively moved into their work engagingposition in a convenient manner.

Another object is to provide a toolholding attachment which has aminimum number of parts for accomplishing the functions of a tool turretfor a variety of sizes and types of work.

A further object consists in the combination and arrangement of theparts of the attachment, whereby the foregoing objects may beaccomplished.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not'referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and descniption and is shown in the accompanying drawing,forming a part of the specification,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a turret tool 5 holder embodying theinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

In the drawing, there is shown a toolholding attachment I0, comprising abody or turret member I provided on each of its four sides with `a toolclamp l2. The turret member is mounted for rotation on a base plate |4which has secured adjacent thereto a slide or T-slot block I5 adapted toslidably lit into a correspondingly body member and its other end isthreadedly secured to the block I5 at |8.

Referring now to the attachment in greater detail, the body or turretmember may be a substantially cubical casting formed with a verticallyarranged slot 20 in each of its side vwalls adjacent a corner of thebody member.

The slots 20 extend to the upper surface of the body or turret memberand are substantially U- shaped at the lower end thereof. The slots 20are symmetrically arranged and provide vertical web or rib-like portionsadjacent the corners of the body member;

The rib-like portions are each provided with a vertical slot orelongated aperture 2| which eX- tend from the respective side Wall ofthe body or turret member to the respective slot 20y formed in anadjacent side wall. The slots 2| are formed with substantially straight,vertical sides disposed at right angles to the side walls of the slots20. cular at their upper and lower ends, and may be enlarged at the sidewalls of the body member |V to form recesses 22.

Each pair lof the slots 20 and 2| are adapted to accommodate one of thetool clamps I2. Each of the tool clamps l2 may be formed with a shank orbolt portion 23 which extends through the slot 2| into the slot 20, andis threaded to receive a nut 24. A washer y25 is placed on the shankportion beneath the nut 24 and is adapted to abut and bear against thewall of the slot 20 adjacent the slot 2|.

The other end of the tool clamp is enlarged to form a toolholding head26, which may be round and may have an outside diameter correspendingsubstantially to the width of the recesses 22 to enable the heads 26 tobe seated in the recesses 22. The head 26 may be square `when rotativeadjustment thereof is not required.

The head 26 is provided with a rectangular aperture 21 extendingdiametrically therethrough for the reception of a correspondingly shapedtool shank. The head 26, terminates in a ilange `on the base plate I4and is adapted to be rotated with respect thereto about an axiallydisposed bushing 30 or the like (Figure 2) which extends throughV anaperture 29 in the turrent and which has al threaded end projectingoutwardly of the turret to receive thereon a locking lever 3|. Thebushing is provided with an enlarged and re- The slots 2| may besemi-cir- A the side walls of the slots 2.

cessed end 32 extending through the base plate I4 and into a recessedportion 33 thereof. The assembly is h'eld together by the rectangularkey member 34 which fits into the recessed end 32 of the bushing 30 andextends across the base plate in a. corresponding recess 35 thereof. Thekey member 34 may be fastened to the base plate by means of screws 36(Figure 2) disposed substantially at each end of the key member 34.

The T-slot block I5, as referred to hereinabove, may be held adjacentthe key member 34 by the bolt IB which extends through the bushing 30and is freely rotatable and movable therein. A Washer 31 may be providedbetween the head I'I of the bolt I6 and the threaded upper vend of thelocking lever 3|.

In order to facilitate proper alignment of the turret member and thetools carried thereon with respect to the lathe, an indexing arrangementmay be provided between the turret member and the base plate. Thisarrangement may comprise one or more ball bearings 40 and 4| disposed inrecesses 44 and 45 at the bottom face of the turret member adapted to beurge'd toward the -base plate by springs 42 and 43 disposed within therecesses44 and 45. The balls 4U and 4| are adapted to index withsuitably placed recesses 46 in the base plate, so that the lateral wallsof the turret member may be square with respect to the key member 34,that is, with respect to the cross slide.

In use, the toolholding attachment is adapted to be secured to the crossslide of a lathe by rst loosening the bolt I6 in the T-slot block I5,and by sliding the members I5 and 34 into the T-slot of the cross slide.The bolt I6 is then screwed tight whereby the block I5 is raised on thebolt to clamp the attachment to the cross slide. The required tools areinserted into the respective apertures 2'| of the four tool clamps I2and are secured therein by tightening the nuts 24 against The tool isthus clamped between the inside of the flange 28 and the adjacent sideWall of the turret member. As will be apparent from the constructionhereinabove described, the tool clamps I2 are arranged to be fullyrotatable, as well as being adjustable vertically within the slots 2|,so that the tools may be held in any desired working angle and be placedat any height within the vertical range permitted by the slots 2 I.

It is to be understood that the tool clamp I2 may be varied in itsconstruction to conform to the respective tools which may be required tobe used therewith, and that it may take the form of an adapter for theaccommodation of other tool holders.

Each of the tools may be placed selectively andv successively into workengaging position by loosening the locking lever 3| on the bushing 30.

As the locking lever is loosened, the springs 42V and 43, which arerather strong, raise the turret member I| from the base plate I4,permitting an easy rotation of the turret into a desired position. Theturret member may then be secured in place by screwing down the lockinglever, which causes the turret member to be pressed downwardly towardthe base plate against the force of the indexing springs, and to forcethe balls into their respective recesses 44 and 45. A pair of dowel pins41 placed on a diameter of the lower face of the turret member at rightangles to that of the index or detent balls serves to securely positionthe turret member on the base plate by extending into recessed portions48 of the detent recesses 46 when the turret member is pressed down onthe base plate by the locking lever.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved toolholding attachment for increasing theutility of lathes. The attachment is simple and rugged in constructionand permits of a wide range of adjustments in the working height andangles of the tools. The attachment also provides an improved toolclamping arrangement.

As Various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacricing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativerier having one vertical slot on each side thereof and not in anylimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim: Y 1. A lathe attachment of the class described, comprising asolid unitary tetragonal tool carrier having one vertical slot on eachside thereof adjacent each corner and a second vertical slot adjacenteach of said corners on the other side thereof intersecting said firstslot, a tool clamp removably secured in each of said first named slotsfor vertical and rotative adjustment ,extending into said second namedslot, fastening means for said clamp in said second named slot,

means for rotatably mounting said carrier se-,

cured thereto, and supporting means for said attachment.

2. A lathe attachment of the class described, comprising a solid unitarytetragonal tool caradjacent each corner, a tool holder secured in eachof said slots for vertical adjustment, means for rotatably mounting saidcarrier secured thereto, spring means disposed between said carrier andsaid mounting means to urge apart said carrier and said mounting means,a member on said mounting means extending through said carrier to permitrotation of the carrier with respect thereto, a threaded member on saidfirst member to releasably clamp said carrier to said mounting meansagainst the force of said resilient means, supporting means for saidattachment having a clamping member, and a bolt extending through saidrst and said second member adapted to threadedly engage said clampingmember and to abut said first member.

3. A lathe attachment of the class described, comprising a unitarypolygonal tool carrier having one vertical slot on each side thereofadjacent each corner and a second vertical slot adjacent each of saidcorners on the other side thereof intersecting said rst slot, a toolclamp removably secured in each of said rst named slots for vertical androtative adjustment and extending into said second named slot, andfastening means for said tool clamp in said second named slot.

4. A lathe attachment of the class described, comprising a substantiallypolygonal tool block having a series of side walls, said side wallshaving a vertical slot therein adjacent another Vof said walls, andvertical web portions formed of said slots formed in an adjacent sideWall and adapted to receive tool clamping means.

5. A lathe attachment of the class described, j

comprising a substantially polygonal tool block having a series of sidewalls, said side walls having a vertical slot therein adjacent anotherof said Walls, vertical Web portions formed by said slots having anelongated vertical aperture therein extending from one side wall to oneof said slots formed in an adjacent side Wall, and tool clamping meansmounted in said apertures for vertical and rotative adjustment.

JOHN A. HONEGGER.

